Delfine Persoon

Delfine Persoon ([dɛl.fin pərˈsoːn]; born 14 January 1985)[2] is a Belgian professional boxer. She held the IBF female lightweight title in 2012 and the WBC female lightweight title from 2014 to June 2019, losing the title in a unification fight against Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight championship.[3] As of September 2020, she is ranked as the world's best active female super-featherweight by BoxRec,[4] the second best active female lightweight by The Ring,[5] and the second best active female, pound for pound, by BoxRec,[6] and sixth by The Ring[5] and ESPN.[7]

Delfine Persoon
Persoon (right) with Filiep Tampere in 2013
Statistics
Weight(s)	Super-featherweight Lightweight
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Nationality	Belgian
Born	14 January 1985 Gits, West Flanders, Belgium
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights	47
Wins	44
Wins by KO	18
Losses	3
Medal record Women's amateur boxing Representing  Belgium Belgian National Championships 2009 Eupen Lightweight

Professional boxing career

Persoon, who works as a railway policewoman, started professional boxing in 2009 - switching to boxing after a career in competitive judo. In March 2011 she became EBU European Champion against Nicole Boss.[8] She successfully defended her title in November 2011 against Myriam Dellal.[9]

In February 2012 Persoon won the WIBF world title with a technical knockout (TKO) against Lucia Morelli. In September 2012 she added the IBF world title with a TKO against Erin McGowan. In January 2013 she successfully defended her WIBF title against Anita Torti. In December 2013 she also gained the WIBA world title.[9]

In March 2013 Persoon won a WBC final eliminator against Kremena Petkova, gaining her the right to challenge Erica Farias for the WBC title. In September 2013 she was stripped of the IBF title for inactivity, having failed to defend it in the intervening year. The vacant title was claimed by Victoria Bustos on 21 September.[9]

In December 2013 she won a unification fight with Lucia Morelli for the WIBF & WBF titles.[10] This victory made her the number 1 lightweight in the world according to BoxRec.

On 20 April 2014 Persoon won the WBC title on points from Farias.[11]

Persoon vs. Taylor

In December 2018 it was revealed that Persoon offered $100,000 to IBF and WBA champion Katie Taylor for a fight.[12] Taylor's manager however stated that Taylor would not even get out of bed for this sum.[13] Eventually, a lightweight unification fight between Persoon and Taylor was set for 1 June 2019, at the Madison Square Garden in New York, on the undercard for the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. heavyweight title fight.[14][15] In addition to all four sanctioning body's titles being on the line, The Ring magazine belt was also at stake. [16] Persoon's management labelled Taylor's team "totally disrespectful" and claimed "psychological warfare" after a series of late fight week demands. This included forcing Persoon to switch hotel as Taylor was staying in the same hotel, demanding that she take an additional blood test and prove Persoon has exercise asthma.[17][18] Taylor won a controversial majority decision to become the undisputed lightweight champion.[19]

Super-featherweight

On 11 November 2019 Persoon won the WBA interim super-featherweight title.[20]

Persoon vs. Taylor II

A rematch with Taylor took take place on 22 August 2020 at the Matchroom Sport headquarters in Brentwood, Essex, for the undisputed female lightweight title.[21] Taylor won the rematch.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

47 fights	44 wins	3 losses
By knockout	18	1
By decision	23	2
By disqualification	3	0

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
47	Loss	44–3	Katie Taylor	UD	10	22 Aug 2020	Matchroom Fight Camp, Brentwood, England	For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female lightweight titles
46	Win	44–2	Helen Joseph	UD	10	11 Nov 2019	Versluys Dôme, Ostend, Belgium	Won WBA interim female super-featherweight title
45	Loss	43–2	Katie Taylor	MD	10	1 Jun 2019	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.	Lost WBC lightweight title; For WBA, IBF, WBO, and inaugural The Ring female lightweight titles
44	Win	43–1	Melissa St. Vil	RTD	7 (10), 2:00	9 Mar 2019	Kortrijk, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
43	Win	42–1	Judy Waguthii	TKO	10 (10)	8 Dec 2018	Ardooie, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
42	Win	41–1	Natalia del Valle Aguirre	UD	10	9 Jun 2018	Sportcentrum, Ichtegem, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
41	Win	40–1	Monica Gentili	UD	8	20 Jan 2018	Moorslede, Belgium
40	Win	39–1	Myriam Dellal	UD	10	11 Nov 2017	Zwevezele, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
39	Win	38–1	Everline Odero	DQ	8 (8)	25 Dec 2016	Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium
38	Win	37–1	Ruth Stephanie Aquino	DQ	1 (10)	11 Nov 2016	Sporthal De zwaluw, Zwevezele, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
37	Win	36–1	Christina Linardatou	UD	10	4 Jun 2016	Sporthal Schiervelde, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
36	Win	35–1	Maïva Hamadouche	UD	10	11 Nov 2015	Zwevezele, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
35	Win	34–1	Jane Kavulani	UD	8	26 Sep 2015	Gits, Belgium
34	Win	33–1	Nicole Boss	TKO	9 (10), 0:45	25 Apr 2015	Sternensaal, Berne, Switzerland	Retained WBC female lightweight title
33	Win	32–1	Florence Muthoni	TKO	8 (8)	28 Feb 2015	Ghelamco Arena, Ghent, Belgium
32	Win	31–1	Diana Prazak	TKO	9 (10), 1:28	11 Nov 2014	Zwevezele, Belgium	Retained WBC female lightweight title
31	Win	30–1	Judy Waguthii	UD	8	27 Sep 2014	Zaal Ogierlande, Gits, Belgium
30	Win	29–1	Érica Farías	UD	10	20 Apr 2014	Zwevezele, Belgium	Won WBC female lightweight title
29	Win	28–1	Lucia Morelli	TKO	10 (10), 1:19	13 Dec 2013	Zaal Forum, Aalst, Belgium	Retained WIBF lightweight title; Won WIBA, and WBF female lightweight titles
28	Win	27–1	Eva Bajic	TKO	3 (8)	11 Nov 2013	Zwevezele, Belgium
27	Win	26–1	Irma Balijagic Adler	UD	8	4 Oct 2013	Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
26	Win	25–1	Galina Gumliiska	TKO	2 (8)	23 Aug 2013	Kursaal, Ostend, Belgium
25	Win	24–1	Kremena Petkova	KO	2 (10)	29 Mar 2013	Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
24	Win	23–1	Fatuma Zarika	UD	8	23 Feb 2013	Sporthal Schiervelde, Roeselare, Belgium
23	Win	22–1	Anita Torti	UD	10	12 Jan 2013	Sporthal Sint Pieter, Sint Truiden, Belgium	Retained WIBF lightweight title
22	Win	21–1	Marianna Gulyas	KO	3 (6)	1 Nov 2012	Sporthal, Izegem, Belgium
21	Win	20–1	Erin McGowan	TKO	7 (10), 1:48	21 Sep 2012	Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium	Won vacant IBF female lightweight title
20	Win	19–1	Valija Lasmanovica	TKO	3 (6)	29 Jun 2012	Moorslede, Belgium
19	Win	18–1	Loli Munoz	UD	8	27 Apr 2012	Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
18	Win	17–1	Lucia Morelli	TKO	5 (10)	25 Feb 2012	Expo-Hallen, Roeselare, Belgium	Won WIBF lightweight title
17	Win	16–1	Myriam Dellal	UD	10	1 Nov 2011	Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium	Retained European female lightweight title
16	Win	15–1	Angel McKenzie	UD	6	30 Sep 2011	Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
15	Win	14–1	Milena Koleva	UD	8	24 Jun 2011	Feesttent, Torhout, Belgium
14	Win	13–1	Floarea Lihet	UD	6	1 Apr 201-	Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
13	Win	12–1	Nicole Boss	UD	10	5 Mar 2011	Sporthal, Lichtervelde, Belgium	Won vacant European female lightweight title
12	Win	11–1	Daniela David	RTD	3 (6)	25 Dec 2010	Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium
11	Win	10–1	Mirabela Calugareanu	KO	2 (6)	10 Dec 2010	Grote Markt, Sint Niklaas, Belgium
10	Loss	9–1	Zelda Tekin	TKO	4 (8)	1 Nov 2010	Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium
9	Win	9–0	Zelda Tekin	DQ	2 (6)	9 Oct 2010	Sporthal De Branding, Middelkerke, Belgium
8	Win	8–0	Kristine Shergold	UD	8	11 Sep 2010	Studio hall, Bruges, Belgium
7	Win	7–0	Nicky Mutsaert	KO	2 (6)	24 May 2010	Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium
6	Win	6–0	Arlene de Freitas	UD	6	30 Apr 2010	Sporthal Tempelhof, Bruges, Belgium
5	Win	5–0	Julie Robert	UD	8	6 Mar 2010	Zaal Ogierlande, Oostkamp, Belgium
4	Win	4–0	Arlene de Freitas	UD	6	5 Dec 2009	BC Noble Art, Deinze, Belgium
3	Win	3–0	Mariska Mulder	TKO	2 (6)	21 Nov 2009	Sporthal Riderfort, Oostkamp, Belgium
2	Win	2–0	Renata Szebeledi	UD	6	4 Oct 2009	Olympia Stadion, Marke, Belgium
1	Win	1–0	Jana Latova	KO	2 (6)	23 May 2008	Zaal Ogierlande, Gits, Belgium

Awards

• Vlaamse Reus in 2014.[22]
• Belgian Sportsman of the year in 2015.[23]

References

1. "Boxing record for Delfine Persoon". BoxRec.
2. "Official website Delfine Persoon".
3. "BoxRec: Delfine Persoon". boxrec.com. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
4. "BoxRec: Female super-featherweight ratings". BoxRec. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
5. "The Ring Women's Ratings". The Ring. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
6. "BoxRec: Female p4p ratings". BoxRec. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
7. "Women's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Did Katie Taylor do enough to take over the No. 1 spot?". ESPN.com. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
8. "West Fleming is boxing champion". Flanders Today. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
9. Persoon's boxing profile
10. "Persoon defeats Morelli". Boxing News 24. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
11. "Face of Flanders: Delfine Persoon". Flanders Today. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
12. "Delfine Persoon reveals $100,000 offer to Katie Taylor". Irish-Boxing. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
13. "Katie Taylor's dream of becoming undisputed champion in doubt after fight talks hit financial snag". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
14. "Delfine Persoon to fight Ireland's Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden". VRT NWS. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
15. News, Flanders (14 April 2019). "Delfine Persoon to fight Ireland's Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
16. "Katie Taylor-Delfine Persoon undisputed lightweight title bout set for June 1, The Ring title also at stake". The Ring. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
17. Oziga. "Delfine Persoon leaves the arena in tears after dubious defeat". Afrinik. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
18. "'Totally disrespectful' - Delfine Persoon's manager blasts Katie Taylor's team over hotel row". Independent.ie. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
19. Alexander, Mookie (1 June 2019). "Video: Katie Taylor controversially edges out Delfine Persoon to become undisputed champion". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
20. Persoon wins WBA interim junior lightweight title, 11 November 2019
21. "Katie Taylor to face Delfine Persoon in rematch on 22 August". BBC Sport. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
22. https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/boksster-delfine-persoon-wint-de-vlaamse-reus-2014~bc430bae/
23. https://sportmagazine.knack.be/sport/delfine-persoon-is-sportvrouw-van-het-jaar-kevin-de-bruyne-sportman/article-normal-637193.html

External links

• Official website
• Boxing record for Delfine Persoon from BoxRec